Citizenship

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to require applicants for British citizenship to be given a foundation course on the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.

Lord Rooker: The Government have no detailed plans at present to require applicants for British citizenship to be given instruction in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, but the matter is under consideration and our conclusions will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper on asylum, immigration and nationality.

Police Use of Firearms

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they will take to ensure that lessons can be learned from incidents involving the police use of firearms.

Lord Rooker: Under Section 79(1) of the Police Act 1996 we have requested the Police Complaints Authority to report to us on the lessons to be learned from recent incidents. The terms of reference of that review will be:
	"To consider the lessons to be learned from investigations supervised by the Police Complaints Authority since January 1998 into incidents in which shootings by police occurred and which resulted in death or injury, with particular regard to: the planning, control and conduct of those operations; the way in which the concerns of the bereaved families were addressed, and how they were kept informed of the progress of the investigation; the training and skill needs of police officers involved in such operations, particularly at command level.
	The Police Complaints Authority has already begun work on this review, and we have asked it to report within six months. The report will be laid before Parliament and published.

Youth Justice System

Lord Milner of Leeds: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will place in the Library the Youth Justice Board's report, Findings from the Youth Justice Plans 2001–02.

Lord Rooker: The Youth Justice Board's report Findings from the Youth Justice Plans 2001–02 was published in August and copies have been placed in the Library. The Youth Justice Board was established in September 1998 to spearhead the reforms to the youth justice system: 154 multi-agency youth offending teams (YOT) have been in operation across England and Wales since 1 April 2000 carrying out the reforms locally. Summaries of progress reports submitted by each individual YOT form the basis of this report. It shows the substantial achievements to date including: the transition to multi-agency working; meeting the pledge to halve the time from arrest to sentence of persistent offenders; successful implementation of a range of new sentences supported by programmes designed to tackle individuals' offending behaviour; and innovative crime prevention measures in deprived areas.

Afghanistan: Future Government

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given and what discussions they have had with the United States and other governments regarding the nature of any future government of Afghanistan in the event of the collapse of the present Taliban government, with particular regard to the role of women.

Baroness Amos: We are working closely with the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, and a wide range of other interested governments and parties to help the Afghan people establish a broad-based government representative of all Afghans. As part of this process, UN Security Council Resolution No. 1378, unanimously adopted on 14 November, sets out a blueprint for such a government. This includes a call for the human rights of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, to be respected.

Barnett Formula

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 7 November (HL Deb, col. 262), (a) when, (b) with what regularity, and (c) in what ways they "have been changing the Barnett formula at the margins".

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Barnett formula is updated in spending reviews, for example in relation to population shares, and departmental comparability factors. The population shares and comparability factors used in the 2000 spending review were published in the Statement of Funding Policy in July 2000.

Barnett Formula

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 7 November (HL Deb, col. 262), whether the fact that the Barnett formula is "updated in each spending review to reflect current circumstances in each country" constitutes a commitment on the part of the Government to its annual revision.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The fact that the Barnett formula is updated in each spending review does not constitute a commitment to its annual revision because spending reviews do not take place every year. It was updated in the 1998 and 2000 spending reviews.

Barnett Formula

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 7 November (HL Deb, col 262), in what circumstances they would not seek an update of the Barnett formula in each spending review as a means of reflecting circumstances in each nation within the United Kingdom.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Barnett formula used in the 2000 spending review is based on population shares and departmental comparability factors published in the Statement of Funding Policy in July 2000 and is updated where necessary in these respects in each spending review.

Religious Buildings: UNESCO Website

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask UNESCO to name on its website the remaining religious buildings in the following categories: (a) Armenian churches in eastern Turkey; (b) mosques and churches in Kosovo; (c) mosques in Macedonia; and (d) churches in occupied northern Cyprus.

Baroness Blackstone: UNESCO's website contains details of those sites inscribed as world heritage sites under the World Heritage Convention. There are no world heritage sites in the categories listed. I understand, however, that UNESCO is currently planning for a programme of restoration of Kosovo's religious monuments.

British Russian and British East-West Centres

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the annual report of the British Russia Centre and British East-West Centre will be available.(HL1396)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Copies of the centres' annual report for the financial year 2000-01 have now been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The centres received grant-in-aid of £226,648 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to support their activities in the financial year 2000-01. In addition, the centres secured funding of £109,346 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for direct expenditure on projects. The centres manage projects to promote and support the development of democratic institutions, the rule of law and society in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Activities last year included sending election observers to Kyrgyzstan; bidding for and winning a contract for a two-year project to assist in reform of tax systems in Russia and a project to train young lawyers in the South Caucasus in specialist skills relating to the ECHR.

Genetic Predisposition to Impairment

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the Disability Rights Commission's call for the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to be extended to people who have a genetic predisposition and for specific legislation relating to personal genetic information.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) is structured to cover people with an impairment and a resulting disability.There is no certainty that a person with a genetic predisposition to a particular condition will necessarily go on to develop an impairment or disability. We have accepted the recommendation of the Disability Rights Task Force that at this time genetic predisposition to impairment should not be considered a disability under the DDA but that the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) should work closely with this department to keep this issue under review.
	We will carefully consider its advice and that of the DRC.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the guidance to be used by the Employment Service in determining whether jobseeker's allowance claimants who are subject to a drug treatment and testing order are available for work.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Guidance for Employment Services staff on the treatment of people who are subject to a drug treatment and testing order is contained in Chapter 2, Section 4 of the Employment Service Labour Market Conditions Guide. A copy of the guide has been placed in the Library.

Minimum Income Standards

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent further representations the Department for Work and Pensions has had from the chairman of the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust in relation to poverty and health and the adequacy of statutory minimum incomes; what their response has been; and whether they will take any action to establish public and transparent minimum income standards.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: In the past year, the Department for Work and Pensions has received a number of letters from the chairman of the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust. The responses have explained that there is no universally accepted single research method that can be used to calculate a minimum income standard for all families. Different research methods tend to make different assumptions and generate a range of estimates.
	The Government's strategy sees poverty as more than just a measure of low income. Poverty is a complex and multi-dimensional problem that affects many aspects of people's lives. Details of the progress the Government are making can be found in Opportunity for All—making progress (Cm 5260), published on 19 September. This report demonstrates that there have been continued real improvements in the lives, prospects, incomes and opportunities of all families.

Can't Hear, Can't Benefit Report

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to the findings of the report from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf entitled Can't Hear, Can't Benefit; what response they will make to the report; and whether they will take any action.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We have noted the issues and concerns raised by the RNID in this report. On 19 October, the President of the Appeals Service and a number of senior officials from the Department for Work and Pensions attended by invitation the RNID's Breaking The Sound Barrier Conference. They took part in a session on the Can't Hear, Can't Benefit report and discussed many aspects of it with delegates. Follow-up action is being taken forward through a meeting between the department and the RNID.

Winter Fuel Payments

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of winter fuel payments for each of the years 1997–98 to 2000–01, what were: (a) the estimated number of people who were entitled to make a claim; (b) the number of people who have made a claim and have been paid; (c) the value of the payments which could have been claimed but have not been claimed; and (d) the value of the claims which validly may still be made.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Initially, winter fuel payments were made through automatic payment mechanisms to around 10 million people over State pension age who received certain qualifying benefits, without the need to claim.
	The scheme was later extended, from its outset, to most people aged 60 and over, regardless of whether they were getting a social security benefit. A claims process was therefore developed for those not receiving specific benefits as the Department did not hold sufficient information to establish entitlement, particularly where an individual had had no need to contact the Department for many years.
	It was estimated that the extension meant that up to an additional 1.5 million people were eligible last winter (2000–01) and up to 1.9 million people could be eligible for previous winters. As a combined claim form was used to deal with these payments, it is not possible to give more details about the numbers of claims for each year.
	However, in total, approximately, 11.1 million payments were made for winter 2000–01. For winters 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, around 1.1 million claims have been paid, in addition to the automatic payments. There are no time limits on claiming for these previous winters and successful claims continue to be paid. Estimates of the likely value of unclaimed payments cannot be derived with any precision.

Winter Fuel Payments

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they intend to take in the future to ensure people are made aware of their entitlement to make retrospective claims for winter fuel payment.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: From April 2000 an information campaign ran to ensure that existing and potential customers knew about the changes to the winter fuel payment scheme and what, if anything, they needed to do to get a payment.
	This year, the campaign, using similar media, began in June and is continuing throughout the year. The information includes advertisements in national and local press; a leaflet and poster, a dedicated Winter Fuel Payment Helpline and information on the Internet. Full explanation of restrospective payments is available in the leaflet, the Internet and from the helpline. The leaflet is made available in a variety of venues, including local social security offices, post offices, electricity and gas outlets, supermarkets and doctors' surgeries.
	Eligible people are still able to claim for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 as there are no time limits for the payment in respect of these winters. However, it is up to the individual to choose whether or not to claim.

Pensioners

Lord Ashley of Stoke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the latest figure for the number of households in the United Kingdom containing one or more pensioners.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: There are 7.7 million households containing at least one person of state pension age in the United Kingdom. Notes 1. The figure is to the nearest 100,000. 2. The figures come from the 1999–2000 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 2000–01 version of the FRS is due for publication soon.

Disability Living Allowance Claimants

Lord Ashley of Stoke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the latest figure available for the number of households containing one or more disabled persons receiving the higher or medium rate care component of disability living allowance or the higher mobility rate.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: It is estimated that about 1,700,000 households include one or more recipients of the highest or middle rate care component or higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance, or both.

Disability Living Allowance Claimants

Lord Ashley of Stoke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the latest figure available for a household containing one or more disabled persons receiving either of the higher rates of disability living allowance.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: It is estimated that about 1,400,000 households include one or more recipients of the highest rate care component or higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance, or both.

Housing Benefit: Lone Parents

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the report of the Better Regulation Task Force entitled Housing Benefit: a case study of lone parents.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We expect to publish our response to the report in December this year.

Physical Agents Directives

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 November (WA 181), whether there will be a cost of £500 to each employer per employee who is required to go on a compulsory training course.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The proposed Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive includes a broad provision that workers exposed to risks from vibration receive information and training relating to the outcome of the risk assessment. It does not require employees to go on a compulsory training course, nor do the Government have any plans to introduce such a requirement in UK vibration legislation.

Strategic Rail Authority: Powers

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What distinction they propose to make between the powers of the Strategic Rail Authority and the powers of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Strategic Rail Authority is a non-departmental public body whose chairman and members are appointed by the Secretary of State. Accordingly, the Secretary of State is ultimately accountable to Parliament for the authority. The powers of the authority are conferred by Part IV of the Transport Act 2000. Under sections 206 and 207 of that Act the Secretary of State may give directions and guidance to the authority. Following public consultation on a draft (issued on 29 June 2001) the Secretary of State intends to issue such directions and guidance shortly.

Heavy Goods Vehicles: Accident Statistics

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people were killed and seriously injured in road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles in the last two years for which figures are available.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: In 1999, 620 people were killed in road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles, and a further 2,771 were seriously injured. In 2000, 560 people were killed in such accidents and 2,719 seriously injured.

Graffiti Damage

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available the British Transport Police successfully prosecuted offenders for graffiti damage.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The British Transport Police (BTP) has provided the following information:
	
		
			 Year Graffiti offences reported to BTP Detected by BTP % rate detected 
			 1998 589 172 29 
			 1999 684 185 27 
			 2000 676 200 30 
		
	
	The BTP does not hold information on the number of successful prosecutions. Instead records are kept on the number of "detections". These figures include all matters that have been, or are currently pending, a prosecution at court. They also include all cases that have been finalised other than by prosecution, e.g. by formal warnings or cautions issued according to Crown Prosecution policy guidelines.

Closed List Voting System

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What review has taken place of the closed party list voting system used in the last European elections; and what conclusions they have drawn about (a) the attitude of voters faced with a closed list; (b) the impact on voter turnout; and (c) the desirability of using such a system in future elections.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: A Home Office review of the 1999 European parliamentary election, published in May 2000, included a review of the closed list voting system and concluded that the introduction of this system appeared not to affect voter motivation in that election. There was no consideration or conclusion as to the desirability of using this system for future elections.

Mauritania: EU Fishing Agreement

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements have been made to monitor the economic, social and employment consequences for Mauritania of the fishing agreement signed this year between the European Union and Mauritania.
	What the impact on the livelihoods of artesenal traditional fishermen in Mauritania has so far been of the fishing agreement signed this year between the European Union and Mauritania.
	What in terms of safety and distance out to sea to be ventured in order to fish have been the consequences of the fishing agreement signed this year between the European Union and Mauritania on the artesenal traditional fishermen of Mauritania.

Lord Whitty: The Government have been pressing the case, both by working with the Community External Fisheries Group and through inputs into the Development Council Fisheries and Poverty Reduction Strategy, for improvements to the way that the European Union negotiates and monitors its fisheries agreements with third countries and assesses their impact, including their impact on the third countries concerned. Better mechanisms are needed to ensure that these agreements provide value for money to the Community taxpayer, provide for proper enforcement and control, promote environmentally sustainable fishing and are coherent with Community development objectives. In specific relation to Mauritania, our pressure helped secure safeguards to protect Mauritanian fish resources, including a regular review on the state of fish stocks. But we shall continue to press for more, both by way of general principle and in relation to future draft agreements and are committed to working with other member states on this and future agreements.

Government Car Service

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 October (WA 166–67):
	(a) whether the annual charge by the Government Car Service for providing six cars to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, excluding drivers' costs, was £130,000 in the year quoted;
	(b) how the overheads charge of £80,300 was broken down and what were the specific costs within it; and
	(c) what charges related to the remaining charge of £49,700 with their specific cost including depreciation. [HL1350)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Whitty: (a) We can confirm the estimated annual charge for 2001–02, excluding drivers' costs, is £130,000;
	(b) The charge of £80,300 represents a proportionate recovery of the Government Car and Despatch Agency's infrastructure costs. These include the agency's direct operational business costs (£22,200), strategic management and central support costs (£29,700), cost of the agency's premises (£21,200), non-vehicle depreciation costs (£4,800) and other notional costs (£2,400). The agency calculates the recovery of its infrastructure costs based on all costs apportioned over its entire customer base.
	(c) The remaining £49,700 is made up of vehicle depreciation charges (£18,500), fuel costs (£17,900) and other vehicle running costs, including the provision of relief vehicles and breakdown cover (£13,300).

Government Car Service

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 October (WA 166–67), what was the annual cost of garage servicing in the last year for which figures are available; and how many services were undertaken in that year.

Lord Whitty: During the financial year 2000–01 the six Government Car Service (GCS) vehicles now based at DEFRA were serviced routinely 13 times at a total cost of £1,943. Servicing was carried out by GCS's own workshop.

Government Car Service

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 October (WA 166–67), what is the total cumulative annual overhead charge by the Government Car Service to all government departments which it serves; and how many cars this covers (treating any replacement car, together with the car which it replaces, as one car).

Lord Whitty: For 2001–02 it is estimated that the Government Car Service will charge a total of £1.2 million for its infrastructure costs. This represents 97 long-term allocations of cars and drivers to Ministers and senior officials.

Environment Agency: Navigation Responsibilities

Baroness Pitkeathley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a decision has been reached on the review of the Environment Agency's navigation responsibilities.

Lord Whitty: The Environment Agency's navigation responsibilities were considered during stage 1 of the Financial, Management and Policy Review (FMPR) which has recently been completed. The review team considered a wide range of views on the subject, including responses to public consultation, reports such as that of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and an independent consultant's study.
	The stage 1 report concluded that there were no compelling operational reasons for a transfer of functions from the Environment Agency to British Waterways but nor were there insuperable barriers to such a transfer. The report also concluded that there was an underlying policy issue to be resolved which was beyond the scope of the FMPR to address. Essentially, that was whether the institutional arrangements for the waterways should be structured to promote navigation and regeneration benefits, with flood defence and conservation accommodated within the structure, or vice versa. In this respect British Waterways and the Environment Agency offer different advantages.
	We have considered carefully the FMPR report and information and views provided subsequently by the Environment Agency and British Waterways. This has not been a straightforward decision. We are attracted by the potential regeneration benefits a transfer to British Waterways could bring, and accept the FMPR report's conclusion that flood defence issues do not pose an insuperable barrier to transfer, given British Waterways' safety record on its own rivers. However, any change needs to be justified by clear and objective evidence. On balance we do not judge there is sufficiently robust evidence on which to justify a transfer. We have therefore decided that current responsibilities should continue.
	The Environment Agency will be set challenging new targets to deliver the improved service on navigation and regeneration being developed through initiatives like Thames Ahead, working with local authorities and other partners. We look forward to positive results from this exercise, and to renewed good will and partnership with British Waterways in serving our important inland waterways.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the quinquennial review of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has been completed.

Lord Whitty: The review team has completed stage I of the Quinquennial Review of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This deals with strategic options. A copy of its report will be deposited in the parliamentary Libraries today.
	The Government welcome the work of the review team and the scientific visiting group. We shall be replying to the recommendations of both exercises in due course with a formal response and action plan agreed jointly with the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
	Stage II of the quinquennial review is currently in hand.

Digital Subscriber Line

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to ensure that pricing of digital subscriber line (DSL) does not act as an obstacle to its take-up.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) monitors the market to ensure that BT complies with its legal obligations under the Competition Act and the terms of its licence. In addition, local loop unbundling enables competing operators and service providers to create their own DSL products. The Minister for e-Commerce has challenged industry to reduce its costs and consumer prices further. The cost of wholesale ADSL has fallen in 2001.

Summer Time

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consult other European countries, both inside and outside the European Union, with a view to securing an agreement that summer time should henceforth start on the third or fourth Sunday in March each year rather than the last Sunday as at present, so as to ensure that summer time always prevails during the Easter holiday period.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government have no plans to consult other European countries about the present start and end dates of summer time.

People's Panel Report

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By what date they have asked the Office for National Statistics for the report on the first three years' operation of the People's Panel; and by what date they will publish it.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The report will be completed in December and published in January 2002.

Northern Ireland Police Service: Recruitment

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the standard letters sent to (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants at the first stage of recruitment to the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and to (c) successful and unsuccessful qualified applicants.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Copies of the standard letters issued to candidates at various stages of the competition will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as requested.

Northern Ireland Police Service: Recruitment

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether police officers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland can transfer to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland; what oath they take on transfer to the new police service; and what oaths they had previously taken in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government's updated implementation plan published in August 2001 gives the Government's position on lateral entry to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
	Any police officer joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland is required to make the declaration set out in Section 38 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 2000.
	Schedule 4 to the Police Act 1996 sets out the declaration that every police officer must take on appointment in England and Wales. Regulation 10 of the Police (Scotland) Regulations, made under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, sets out the declaration that every police officer must take on appointment in Scotland.
	I understand that in the Republic of Ireland officers make a declaration as follows:
	"I. . . do solemnly and sincerely before God declare and affirm and my word and honour pledge that I will be faithful to the utmost of my ability in my employment by the Government of Ireland in the office of Garda in the Garda Siochana, and that I will render good and true service and obedience to Ireland and its constitution and government as by law established, without favour or affection, fear, malice, or ill-will, and that I will see and cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against the same, and that while I shall continue to hold the said office, I will to the best of my knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law, and that I do not belong, and that I will not while I hold the said office, join, belong, or subscribe to any Political Society whatsoever, or to any Secret Society whatsoever.

Northern Ireland Police Service: Recruitment

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why advertisements for the Police Service of Northern Ireland are being shown in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but not in other regions of the United Kingdom.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Advertising in Great Britain has been reduced following the first recruitment competition, on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis carried out by the independent recruitment agent. However, advertisements have been placed in a number of specialist publications which are available in Great Britain and on a satellite television channel. Details are also available on the Police Service of Northern Ireland website.

Northern Ireland Police Service: Recruitment

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland is on the basis of 50/50 Catholic/Protestant and not proportionality of the population.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland is being carried out on the basis of 50 per cent Catholic, 50 per cent non-Catholic. The Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland recommended a 50:50 recruitment profile because this broadly reflects the breakdown of the population in the normal age range for recruitment.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Bill of Rights

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the letter from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission of 24 March in which the Secretary of State requested advice as required by Section 69(7) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
	When their view, reported on page 14 of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's document Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland (September 2001), namely that the issue was the scope of a bill of rights, was expressed; by whom; and whether the commission will publish the full text of the communication.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mowlam, wrote to Professor Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, on 24 March 1999, formally requesting the advice referred to in paragraph 4 of the relevant section of the Good Friday agreement. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Task Forces and Advisory Groups

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews established since 20 May 1997 were in existence between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: This information has today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses in the form of an annual report; a copy is also being placed in the Vote Office. Future reports will be published annually.
	Task forces, advisory groups and reviews provide independent, expert advice to government on a wide range of issues. These are an effective means of securing high quality advice on matters of real public concern and they seek to operate in as open and transparent a way as possible. While they are not a new phenomenon, it is only since 1997 that detailed information on them has been public.

Performance and Innovation Unit Report

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Performance and Innovation Unit will publish its report on resource productivity.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report Resource productivity: making more with less to government is being published today. The Prime Minister has welcomed the report which will make an important contribution to delivering our goal of sustainable development. The report focuses on how to meet our objectives on economic growth without unacceptable environmental impacts.
	Key areas identified in the report for further action include government procurement; a new approach to sustainable development and resource productivity in small businesses; targeted support for resource productive innovation; and an assessment of long-term indicative targets.
	The Right Honourable Michael Meacher MP, Minister of State for the Environment, will lead on taking forward the implementation and dissemination of the report in collaboration with colleagues on the ENV(G) Cabinet sub-committee.
	Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation.